Republican strategist Rove draws protests at UMass

AP , Associated Press

Apr. 9, 201310:35 PM ET

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — A speech by Republican strategist Karl Rove at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has attracted dozens of protesters.

The Springfield Republican reports (bit.ly/12HyJSU) that protesters began shouting insults and allegations — including that Rove was responsible for deaths in the Iraq war — shortly after Rove began a 30-minute speech Tuesday night. Hundreds of students turned out to hear him.

The chief strategist of President George W. Bush's presidential campaigns and his deputy chief of staff was invited by the university's Republican Club in conjunction with the Smith College Republican Club.

UMass student and Republican Club president David Kaufman calls Rove an "important, intelligent and influential" figure in American politics.

The American Friends Service Committee asked Kaufman to cancel Rove's appearance, and when Kaufman refused, they planned to organize a protest.